Atrocities in Ethiopia: Documenting Mass Killings, Mass Detentions, and Drone Warfare Against Civilians in Tigray

The conflict in Tigray represents one of Africa’s most deadly conflicts in recent times, characterized by widespread atrocities, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, perpetrated by all major parties.

These groups, including the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF), Amhara Militia and Regional Forces, and Tigray Defense Forces, have been credibly accused of violations such as targeted killings, sexual violence, and property destruction.1 Critically, the UN-mandated International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE) has found reasonable grounds to believe that all parties committed grave violations, with some amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity,2 which directly caused a devastating humanitarian crisis.

More than two years after active hostilities ceased, accountability for these crimes remains elusive. The Ethiopian government’s transitional justice initiatives lack transparency and fail to address the needs of victims, and progress on independent investigations and prosecutions has been slow. The ongoing presence of the EDF and continued reports of abuses underscore significant challenges to achieving lasting peace and justice.3

The conflict was marked by alarming and widespread patterns of violence against the Tigrayan population.4 This report highlights findings from OJAH’s investigations into egregious incidents that took place in the context of this conflict, pointing to apparent violations of the most basic tenets of international law. These incidents include episodes of alleged killings, widespread sexual violence, property destruction, displacement of the local population, and the seemingly deliberate denial of essential resources, culminating in a profound humanitarian crisis.5 Pending further investigation and analysis, these violations may amount to international crimes.1

OJAH has conducted investigations into multiple incidents across the region, including:

  • An investigation into mass killings in Seharti and Samre, Maryam Dengelat, Maryam Shewito, Mahbere Dego, Edaga Berhe, Adigedena, and Bora

  • Drone attacks in Dedebit

  • Airstrikes in Togoga and Mekelle Kindergarten

  • Mass arrests and detentions in Mierab Abaya; and widespread and systematic conflict-related sexual violence across the region

These were prioritized for their strong corroborative evidence, perpetrator identification, and clear depiction of systemic international crimes against Tigrayans, initiating our confidential submissions to accountability mechanisms.

Despite efforts by international human rights bodies and the media, significant gaps remain in the available information concerning atrocities and violations committed in this conflict, limiting a full understanding of the violations, perpetrator identification, and, critically, the intent and command responsibility behind these systematic abuses.6 This is due to restricted access to the sites of the violations, communication blackouts, including Internet shutdowns, and other challenges arising when operating in conflict zones.

This report seeks to address some of these gaps by summarizing information collected as part of OJAH’s investigations, analyzing patterns, and preliminarily assessing them against international law.

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Echoes of Violence

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Human Rights Violations in Tigray Region, Ethiopia